"I was what they called a feature
player, never a star. They say I was in 500 films, everything but the newsreels."
- ZaSu Pitts

The character actress ZaSu Pitts was born
in Parsons, Kansas on January 3rd, 1894. Her first name ZaSu was derived
from a combination of names of two of her aunts on her father's side, Eliza
and Susan. ZaSu received her education in Santa Cruz, California. She worked
for many studios, including Universal, Metro, and Famous Players-Lasky,
appearing in many of their features and comedies. Some films of note for
ZaSu were 1917's "The Little Princess" and "Rebecca Of Sunnybrook Farm",
both opposite Mary Pickford, "A Modern
Musketeer" (1917), and "How Could You, Jean?" (1918) for Famous Players,
as well as "As The Sun Went Down" (1919), for the Metro Company. She also
appeared in popular films for Robertson-Cole, including "The Other Half"
and "Poor Relations" (both 1919). ZaSu's most famous silent role however
remains her portrayal of Trina Sieppe, the greedy wife in the Erich von
Stroheim classic silent "Greed" (1924). Her performance was haunting and
spellbinding. ZaSu also filmed the part of the mother in the anti-war film
classic "All Quiet On The Western Front" (1930), but after audiences laughed
in preview at the sight of her on screen, the film was revamped, and her
scenes played by Beryl Mercer instead. From that time on ZaSu was cast
in mostly comedic roles for the remainder of her film career. In real life
she looked physically similar to actress Lillian
Gish, but her personality was much quirkier.

Vintage Bio from "Who's Who On The Screen" (1920):
"ZaSu Pitts, known as "the girl with the ginger snap
name" was born in Parsons, Kansas, and received her education in Santa
Cruz, California. She embarked upon a screen career with Universal, appearing
in many of their comedies. ZaSu Pitts, as befits her splendid work on the
silver sheet, is now being starred by Robertson-Cole and the reception
her pictures "The Other Half" and "Poor Relations" have received prove
her popularity. She is fond of tennis and motoring, is five feet six inches
high, weighs a hundred and fifteen pounds, and has blue eyes and brown
hair."